Headlines

Rau co-founders Daren Myers and Brian Watrous stopped by BevNET’s West Coast office in San Diego this week to share the latest from the growing San Diego-based brand.

Conscious Cultures, the maker of Barefoot Bucha, a Virginia-based kombucha brand, has agreed to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit filed against the company by Barefoot Wine owner E. & J. Gallo.

Wells Fargo Securities highlighted slowing growth in the energy drink category in a new report detailing Nielsen xAOC (expanded all outlets combined) year-over-year sales data for the four-week period ending on August 13.

Honeydrop, which produces a line of HPP cold-pressed lemonades sweetened with honey, today announced new chainwide distribution at natural retailer Sprouts Farmers Market. The beverages are now available at all 250 Sprouts locations across 13 Southern U.S. states stretching from California to Georgia.

Beginning this week at Mamma Chia is Lance Dermeik, who has come aboard as the company's new vice president of operations. Dermeik joins Mamma Chia, a maker of chia-based beverages and snacks, after eight years at Hain Celestial as director of contract manufacturing where he oversaw operations on more than 40 contract manufacturers and 15 natural and organic brands.

At next month’s Natural Products Expo East trade show in Baltimore, the New York-based brand will debut an organic line extension of “electrolyte infusions” targeting an older demographic and tilting toward more female consumers, the founder says.

Last week natural products distributor United Natural Foods Inc. announced the acquisition of Gourmet Guru, a natural and organic food and beverage distributor and merchandiser serving the Northeast.

Steaz CEO Linda Barron said the transaction “will provide the company with resources and strategic synergies to further accelerate the growth of the brand.”

A longtime veteran of the food and beverage industry, Sarah Bird takes the reins from Bhakti founder Brook Eddy, who now serves as chairwoman of the company’s board of directors. Eddy remains “involved in the vision, innovation and culture” of Bhakti, according to the company.